Freaks (1932)
A circus' beautiful trapeze artist agrees to marry the leader of side-show performers, but his deformed friends discover she is only marrying him for his inheritance.
42,541
Cast & Crew
Top Billed Cast
-
Phroso -
Venus -
Cleopatra -
-
Hercules -
Hans -
Frieda -
Madame Tetrallini -
Siamese Twin -
Siamese Twin
-
Pin Head -
Half Woman-Half Man -
Half Boy
-
Armless Girl
-
Human Skeleton
Full cast
Director:
Tod BrowningWriters:
Clarence Aaron 'Tod' Robbins (suggested by story: "Spurs"), Willis Goldbeck (screenplay), Leon Gordon (screenplay)All Cast & Crew
Awards
2 wins & 1 nomination.Reviews & Commentary
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Parents Guide
Did You Know?
Trivia
According to one source, director Tod Browning was introduced to the story by Cedric Gibbons, longtime head of MGM's Art Department. He was supposedly boyhood friends with author Clarence Aaron 'Tod' Robbins and convinced the studio to purchase film rights for the sum of $8,000. Another source claims that the diminutive actor Harry Earles gave Browning a copy of the story during the production of The Unholy Three (1925) in hopes that he could star in the adaptation.
Quotes
Hans:
Are you laughing at me?
Cleopatra:
Why no, monsieur.
Hans:
Thanks, I'm glad.
Cleopatra:
Why should they laugh at you?
Hans:
Most big people do, they don't realize that I'm a man with the same feelings they have.
Goofs
At 43:40 when Cleo tosses the wine at the freak, she is standing in front of him, but the wine she throws comes from the far right side of the frame.
Alternate Versions
Original preview version of "Freaks" allegedly ran 90 minutes. After a disastrous reaction from the audience, MGM executive Irving Thalberg deemed the film "too horrific" and had it cut to its present length of 64 minutes. The cut footage is not known to exist.
Soundtracks
Dancing Dolls(uncredited)
Music by Julius Seredy
Storyline
Plot Summary
Genres
Drama | HorrorDetails
Release Date:
20 February 1932Language
English, German, French
Country of Origin
USAFilming Locations
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USABox Office
Budget:
$310,607 (estimated)
Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$4,072
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